Thursday, February 22, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Calls on Nixon to Stop Opposing Katy Trail Expansion
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today urged Attorney General Jay Nixon to stop working against his plan to expand the Katy Trail across Missouri. In a letter to Nixon, Gov. Blunt reiterated his position that the state should quickly finalize a settlement with Ameren that includes expanding the Katy Trail from Windsor to Pleasant Hill, which could virtually complete the trail from St. Louis to Kansas City.
“We are now in a position to reach an agreement with AmerenUE whereby the company would recognize the environmental damage caused by the breach of the reservoir and transfer at least a portion of the Rock Island Railroad to be used for the Katy Trail,” Blunt wrote in a letter to Nixon. “The Katy Trail is one of Missouri’s treasures and Missourians all across the state enjoy its use. The extension of this natural environment would benefit every Missourian so I am tremendously disappointed that you would object to its expansion.”
In the Taum Sauk settlement negotiated by Blunt’s Administration and blocked by a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General, Ameren will work to rebuild the reservoir without passing those costs on to ratepayers. Ameren will also pay the costs to cleanup and rebuild Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park at a cost of approximately $20 million and restore the East Fork of the Black River for approximately $40 million. Both the park and the river are located in Reynolds County.
Among other aspects of the settlement agreement, Blunt has proposed that Ameren transfer a portion of the Rock Island Railroad to be used to expand the Katy Trail from Windsor in Henry County, through Johnson County, and to Pleasant Hill in Cass County. The Jefferson City News-Tribune reported that Nixon opposes Blunt’s Katy Trail expansion plan. According to the paper, he announced his opposition at a February 15 meeting with the Missouri Press Association.
The governor wants to quickly settle this issue with Ameren so that Missouri is fully compensated for the Taum Sauk destruction and so that the company and communities affected by the breach may move forward.
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View Copy of Gov. Blunt's Letter to Attorney General Jay Nixon